Garment-supporter.



Patented Sept. 9, I902.

H. C. HINE.

GARMENT SUPPDRTEB.

(Application filed July 16, 1902.r

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES HENRY C. I'IINE, OF

NEW BRITAIN, CONNECTICUT.

GARMENT-SUPPORTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 708,963, datedSeptember 9, 1902.

Application filed July l6 1902.

T0 at whom it 717 6141] concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY O. HINE, a citizen of the United States,residing in New Britain, in the county of Hartford and State ofConnecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Garmcut-Supporters, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to garment-supporters of the kind described in mycopending application, filed June 20, 1902, Serial No. 112,404, in whichis illustrated a pair of suspenders the shoulder-straps whereof areattached to a lever, the latter being pivoted to a hangerwhich carriesthe rear tabs. Said lever and hanger are formed from the sheet metalusually employed in this art and are suitably punched or struck up toform balltracks, in which work suitable bearing-balls.

The object of the present improvements is to simplify the construction,to reduce the number of the balls employed, and to minimize the cost tothe end that the improved trimmings may be offered to the trade at afigure which will make them commercially practicable.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view of a pair of suspendersmade in accordance with my present improvements.

Fig. 2 illustrates a lever and its hanger, the former being providedwith pivoted chapes for the shoulder-straps. Fig. 3 is an enlargedcross-section taken centrally of the ball-bearing joint; and Fig. 4shows in perspective cross-section the lever, the hanger, and thecentral lever-rivet.

In the several views similar parts are designated by similar charactersof reference.

The suspenders comprise the usual shoulder-straps 1 and 2, which areconnected by chapes 3 and 4 to a lever A, the latter consisting of arms5 and 6. The chapes are inserted between and pivoted to the free ends ofsaid arms by rivets 7 and 8, and the lever is pivoted to a'hanger 9,carrying rear tabs 9. The lever A preferably consists of a pair ofplates, (designated as 5 and 5 in Figs. 3 and 4,) said plates beingconnected at their ends by the rivets 7 and 8, and the hanger 9consists, preferably, of a single plate inserted between thelever-plates, as at Fig. 3. The

hanger has a large eye 10, which encircles a group of balls 11, workingin a raceway 12,

Serial No. 115,801. (No model.)

which is formed partly by striking up opposite annular depressions orribs 12 and 12 upon the lever plates. The hanger 9 fits loosely betweensaid plates, and the balls preferably run in said depressions, althoughthe ball-race may be otherwise constituted within the scope of mypresent improvements. The lever-plates may also be connected by acentral rivet 13, preferably tubular,although said plates may beotherwise connected at their middle portion and in some instances theconnection may be omitted.

I-Ieretofore it has not been found practicable in this art to use ashoulder-strap lever pivoted to a hanger, owing to the thinness andpeculiar character of the sheet metal which it is necessary to employinmaking the trimmings, said metal being only about one sixtyfourth of aninch in thickness, and hence of fering practically a knife-edge at thebearing parts and, moreover, being of an easily-workable material whichis extremely liable to bite at the joint if a simple pivot is employed,causing the metalto cut away rapidly, especially as the lever issubjected to considerable strain and in many cases is in constantmotion.

By my invention the thin metal hanger 9 is provided with a large eyewhich rests upon the series of balls, and hence all possibility ofcutting is eliminated, and instead of the suspender-webbing outlastingthe trimmings, as heretofore, the reverse is the case. Moreover, I amenabled to place upon the market suspenders which by reason of the useof the lever are in action equal or superior to the best class ofpulley-action'suspendersand at about half the cost of the latter.

It will be seen that by reason of the small diameter of the race 12 thenumber of balls 11 is minimized, which is a matter of great importancein this class of devices, which are.

made in very great quantities and in which a slight saving in each setof trimmings amounts to a large sum in a seasons business. It will alsobe seen that the lever-plates'are preferably duplicates, thus effectinga further econimproving the construction and action of the device. Thisimprovement gives a central draft throughout, thus relieving the strainand wear and also enabling the entire structure to be made very thin,which is an important factor in this class of merchandise.

Having described my invention, I claim 1. Apairof suspenders comprisingapair of shoulder-straps, a suspender-end, and a device connecting saidstraps to said suspenderend; said connecting device comprising a leverto- Whose opposite ends said shoulderstraps are connected, and a hangerto which said Suspender-end is connected; said lever and hanger elementsbeing formed of thin sheet metal, and one of said elements consisting ofa pair of plates and the other thereof being inserted between saidplates and having an eye; means cooperating with said eye to form aball-race; a set of balls in said race; and means for retaining saidlever, hanger and balls in cooperative relation.

2. A pair of suspenders comprising-a pair of shoulder-straps, asuspender-end, and a de- Vice connecting said straps to saidsuspenderend; said connecting devicecomprising a le ver to whoseopposite ends said shoulderstraps are connected, and a hanger to whichsaid suspender-end is connected; said lever and hanger elements beingformed of thin sheet metal, and one of said elements consisting of apairof plates and the other thereof being inserted between said platesand having an eye; a transverse fastener extending through said eye andconnecting said plates, and the elements which compose said connectingdevice being so formed or stamped up and arranged as to form aball-race, a part whereof consists of said eye; and a set of balls insaid race.

3. A pair of suspenders comprising a pair of shoulder-straps, aSuspender-end, and a device connecting said straps to said suspenderend,said connecting device comprising a lever to whose opposite ends saidshoulderstraps are connected, and a hanger to which said Suspender-endis connected; said lever and hanger elements being formed of thin sheetmetal, and one of said elements consisting of a pair of plates and theother thereof being inserted between said plates and having an eye, andat least one of said plates having a struck-up annular depression whichcooperates with said eye to form a ball-race; a set of balls in saidrace, and means for retaining said lever, hanger and balls incooperative relation.

4. A pair of suspenders comprising a pair of shoulder-straps, asuspender-end, and a device connecting said straps to said suspenderend,saidconnecting device com prising a lever to whose opposite ends saidshoulderstraps are connected, and a hanger to which said suspender-endis connected; said lever and hanger elements being formed of thin sheetmetal, and one of said elements consisting of a pair of plates and theother. thereof being inserted between said plates and having an eye, andsaid plates having similar struck-up annular depressions, and saiddepressions cooperating with said eye to form a ball-race; and a set ofballs in said race.

5. A pair of suspenders comprising a pair of shoulder-straps, aSuspender-end, and a device connecting said straps to said suspenderend,said connecting device comprising a lever to whose opposite ends saidshoulderstraps are connected, and a hanger to which said Suspender-endis connected; said lever and hanger elements being formed of thin sheetmetal, one of said elements consisting of a pair of plates and the otherthereof being inserted between said plates and having an eye, saidplates having similar struck-up annular depressions, and saiddepressions cooperating with said eye to form a ball-race; a set ofballs in said race; and a rivet passing through said eye and connectingsaid plates.

6. A pair of suspenders comprising a pair of shoulder-straps, aSuspender-end, and a device connecting said straps to said suspenderend,said connecting device comprising a lever to whose opposite ends saidshoulderstraps are connected, and a hanger to which said suspender-endis connected; said lever and hanger elements being formed of thin sheetmetal, one of said elements consisting of a pair of plates and the otherthereof being inserted between said plates and having an eye, saidplates having similar struck-up annular depressions, and saiddepressions cooperating with said eye to form a ball-race; a set ofballs in said race; a rivet passing through said eye and connecting saidplates; and rivets connecting said plates at their ends.

7. A pair of suspenders comprising a pair of shoulder-straps, asuspender-end, and a device connecting said straps to said suspenderend;said Connecting device comprising a lever to whose opposite ends saidshoulderstraps are connected, and a hanger to which said suspender-endis connected; said lever and hanger elements being formed of thin sheetmetal, said lever consisting of a pair of plates, and said hanger beingformed with an eye and being inserted between said plates;

means cot'iperating with said eye to form a struck-up annulardepressions, and said hanger being inserted between said plates eye andbeing inserted between said plates;

means cooperating with said eye to form a ball-race; a set of balls insaid race; means forretaining said lever, hanger and balls incooperative relation; and a pair of chapes inserted between said platesat the ends of said lever and attached thereto.

10. Apair of suspenders comprising a pair of shoulder-straps, aSuspender-end, and a device connecting said straps to said suspenderend;said connecting device comprising a lever to whose opposite ends saidshoulderstraps are connected, and a hanger to which said suspender-endis connected; said lever and hanger elements being formed of thin sheetmetal, and one of said elements consisting of a pair of plates and theother thereof being inserted between said plates and having an eye;means cooperating with said eye to form a ball-race; a set of balls insaid race; means for retaining said lever, hanger and balls incooperative relation; and a chape also inserted between said plates andpivoted thereto.

11. A pair of suspenders comprising a pair of shoulder-straps, asuspender-end, and a device connecting said straps to said suspenderend;said connecting device comprising a lever and a hanger, to the latter ofwhich said suspender-end is connected; said lever and hanger elementsbeing formed of thin sheet metal, said lever consisting of a pair ofplates, and said hanger being formed with an eye and being insertedbetween said plates; means 00- operating with said eye to form aball-race; a set of balls in said race; a pair of devices connectingsaid plates at their ends; and a pair of chapes attached to saidshoulder-straps and inserted between said plates and pivoted upon saidconnecting devices.

HENRY C. HINE.

Witnesses:

B. C. STICKNEY, JOHN O. SEIFERT.

